Serving the Platte Valley since 1888
Serving the Platte Valley since 1888
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The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recently announced that the flood insurance rate map for Carbon County is nearly complete in an April 8 press release. The new maps will provide Carbon County with more accurate flood risk information that can help local officials and residents make informed decisions about reducing flood risks and purchasing flood insurance. The mapping project is part of a nationwide effort led by FEMA to increase local knowledge of flood risks and support actions to address and reduce those...
From coal to wind and from agriculture to tourism, Carbon County has a diverse past, present and future. If one lucky resident can represent the county in a new seal, they could receive $600 from the Board of Carbon County Commissioners (BOCCC). In an April 7 press release, the BOCCC announced a contest for a new seal design open to students and the community as a whole. “Carbon County has a unique history and evolving culture, one that deserves to be expressed in a way that is inclusive to all citizens,” read the press rel...
Haulers with oversize loads can expect to have their weight checked in the near future. Little more than a month after the Board of Carbon County Commissioners (BOCCC) approved a resolution implementing weight restrictions on county roads, the Carbon County Sheriff’s Office appeared before the commissioners on April 6 to request the purchase of four portable scales. As was reported previously (see “Paving the way” on page 2 of the February 24 Saratoga Sun), the commi...
Carbon County Road 504 and Pic Pike Road continue to be a point of discussion, though no longer due to, now lifted, weight restrictions on a Wyoming Highway 130 bridge. At the April 6 meeting of the Saratoga Town Council, Carbon County Commissioner Sue Jones joined Kandis Fritz, Carbon County road and bridge administrator, to discuss several entities working together for a future chip seal project. Those entities include Carbon County, the Saratoga Cemetery Board and the Upper...
Councilmember Bob Keel officially resigned from the Saratoga Town Council during the April 6 meeting of the governing body. Keel, who was elected to the council during the 2018 General Election, read his letter of resignation early in the meeting under council comments. Citing changes in his family life, Keel stated that he was choosing his family over the council. Keel was elected to a four year term along with Councilmember Jon Nelson and former mayor John Zeiger. Keel was...
The Carbon County Council of Governments (CCCOG) met in person on March 31 at the Carbon County Coordination Center (C4) in Rawlins. The meeting had originally been scheduled on March 15 but, due to weather, was rescheduled. While the meeting had originally been scheduled to be held in Hanna, it was moved to the C4 so elected officials could see the new command center. Nearly all Carbon County municipalities were represented with the exception of Hanna, Medicine Bow and...
Within a month of the Board of Carbon County Commissioners (BOCCC) being informed about weight restrictions on a Highway 130 bridge at mile marker 57.52, those restrictions have been removed. As was reported previously (see "A bridge not far enough" on page 1 of the March 10 Saratoga Sun), the BOCCC was notified by Jason Armbruster, district ranger for the Medicine Bow-Routte National Forest and Thunderbasin National Grasslands, about the weight restrictions on March 2....
During their March 16 meeting, three members of the Saratoga Town Council and Mayor Creed James stated they would donate the 1st quarter of their governmental salaries to a local fundraising group. The commitment came while Dan Jones, a Saratoga resident and president of Prairie Dog Fundraising, approached the governing body about a continued financial commitment from the Town of Saratoga. Prairie Dog Fundraising, a non-profit corporation, annually holds the Prairie Dog Open...
Saratoga’s Department of Public Works has been trying to figure out exactly why they are experiencing a high level of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) in their lagoon effluent. It appears, now, that the issue may be with the lab that has been performing the testing. As was reported previously (see “Mystery at the lagoon” on page 6 of the January 20 Saratoga Sun), Director of Public Works Jon Winter had informed the Saratoga-Carbon County Impact Joint Powers Board (SCCIJPB) of t...
More than a month after tabling a resolution in regards to a conditional use permit from Union Telephone Company (Union Wireless) and the City of Rawlins, the Board of Carbon County Commissioners (BOCCC) unanimously voted against the resolution on March 18. As was reported previously (see “Can you please hold?” on page 1 of the February 17 Saratoga Sun) the county commissioners had tabled the permit at their February 2 meeting following public comments and a petition from nea...
Construction season in Carbon County is officially underway as the Wyoming Department of Transportation begins a multi-year project on Interstate 80 east of Sinclair, between mile markers 221-227.5. Crews with McGarvin-Moberly Construction Co. started initial bridge work last week on the Wyoming Highway 76 interchange overpass structure near mile marker 221 on I-80. Work planned for the structure this summer includes minor bridge repairs, construction of a retaining wall at the bridge corners, approach slab replacement,...
The Carbon County Visitors Council (CCVC) met in Rawlins on March 10 at the Best Western Hotel for their regularly scheduled meeting. All board members were present in person except the Baggs and Hanna representatives. Weather had prevented them coming in person, and they joined the meeting by Zoom. The Board approved 36 vouchers between February 21, 2020 and March 10, 2021 totaling $27,387.47 for payment. After the financial summary was approved, the board approved the munici...
Just two weeks after finding out about weight restrictions placed by the Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT) on a Highway 130 bridge, the Board of Carbon County Commissioners (BOCCC) were informed of both short-term and long-term solutions to the issue. As was reported previously (see “A bridge not far enough” on page 1 of the March 10 Saratoga Sun), Jason Armbruster, district ranger for the Medicine Bow-Routte National Forest and Thuderbasin National Grassland, had...
For some, it may seem that one election cycle bleeds right into another especially as several current members of the Wyoming Legislature have made early announcements of running against Representative Liz Cheney in 2022. A piece of legislation currently in the Wyoming Senate, however, would add another election date to Wyoming’s calendar and create additional work for both the Secretary of State and county clerks throughout Wyoming. During their rescheduled March 18 m...
The Town of Saratoga has finally filled a vital position in town hall as Mayor Creed James appointed a new town clerk on March 16. Since the resignation of former town clerk Suzie Cox effective December 31, 2020, the Saratoga Town Council has contracted Pam Paulson, former Town of Hanna treasurer, to aid treasurer Sammy Flohr and assistant clerk/treasurer Brenda Mistelske. Along with appointing a new clerk, the Saratoga Town Council also discussed a new repeater for the...
The Hanna Town Council met on March 9 at the Hanna Town Hall. It was attended by council members Jason Nordquist, Sammy Sikes and William Dys. Council member Tracy Fowler was absent. Mayor Lois Buchanan was present. Buchanan reported the High Country Joint Powers Board (HCJPB) was taking bids for the monitoring of the Hanna landfill. She said the HCJPB had sold the landfill loader and bulldozer to the town for $10,000. Public works director Larry Korkow said that a snow fence...
The Medicine Bow Town Council met on March 8 at the Medicine Bow Community Hall. All council members were present along with Mayor Sharon Biamon. The council decided to pay all but 10 percent of the construction company Oftedal retainage fee. “We discovered some things that might cost the town some money,” Town Clerk/Treasurer Karen Heath said. “I just thought you should know before you pay the retainage fee.” The normal protocol is that a contractor does a series of inspectio...
The Encampment Town Council meeting of March 11, 2021 began with Josh Saier of the Sierra Madre Muzzle Loaders Club requesting permission to use the Grand Encampment Museum grounds for the annual Rendezvous to be held July 23-25. The council was happy to approve the request and look forward to getting back to normal as last year’s event was not held due to the COVID pandemic. There will be some changes for this year’s event, however. The traditional pig roast dinner will not...
While the Town of Saratoga has yet to start on their audit of Fiscal Year 2020/2021, the Saratoga-Carbon County Impact Joint Powers Board (SCCIJPB) is nearing the completion of their financial review. During their March 9 meeting, the SCCIJPB was informed by Chairman Richard Raymer that Binder Dijker Otte (BDO)—Anton Collins Mitchell (ACM), the auditing firm historically used by the joint powers board merged with BDO in 2020—had asked for direction from the board on the inclus...
Construction of the North Platte Valley Medical Center (NVPMC) will start construction earlier than expected. Though there is still snow on the ground, the Platte Valley Healthcare Project (PVHP) is excited and ready to proceed as soon as weather allows. On Tuesday morning, PVHP Chairman Will Faust received notification from the United States Department of Agriculture that the loan process to finance the construction of the critical access hospital had been approved. “Final plans and specifications have been prepared and a...
Over the past few months, the Saratoga-Carbon County Impact Joint Powers Board (SCCIJPB) has discussed collecting on delinquent water and sewer accounts and terminating the services of those in arrears. Following their March 9 meeting, however, it appears that the joint powers board and the Town of Saratoga must first review and revise portions of their ordinance relating to water and sewer billing. In January, Director of Public Works Jon Winter asked both the SCCIJPB and...
COVID-19 restrictions are beginning to lift, creating more opportunities for folks to gather at their favorite restaurant or bar. With the upcoming St. Patrick’s Day, remember to preplan and have a sober designated driver before deciding to drink any adult beverages. In years past, drunk-driving crashes tend to spike on St. Patrick’s Day. This is why the Wyoming Highway Patrol wants to remind people to stay safe. The patrol encourages everyone to be proactive and not only designate a sober driver for themselves, but make sur...
It appears that Saratoga will not be getting a new recreational vehicle (RV) park in the near future. At least, if one is built, it will likely not be by JaJaCa Properties owners James (Jimmy) and Jamie Campbell. During a public hearing for a special use permit at the March 9 meeting of the Saratoga Planning Commission, the would-be developers announced they would not be applying for an RV park permit and requested to pull their special use permit application. The latest...
Responding to requests from affected counties, and following a thorough review of conditions, Governor Mark Gordon has issued an emergency declaration to facilitate a coordinated response in the aftermath of a severe winter storm that has affected portions of the state. The emergency declaration allows the director of the Wyoming Office of Homeland Security (WOHS) to mobilize state and federal personnel, resources and organizations to address the impacts of the storm. It also...
Should the Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT) invest in upgrading a bridge on Wyoming Highway 130 or should the Board of Carbon County Commissioners (BOCCC) spend more than $1 million upgrading Carbon County Road 504? That was the question raised during the March 2 meeting of the county commissioners in discussion with representatives from the United States Forest Service (USFS). Historically, Highway 130 has been the main thoroughfare for logging trucks...
